About This PhD Project

Project Description

The applicability and transferability of crash modification factors and related countermeasure effectiveness is important to ensure crash models reflect operating conditions in each country. The cataloguing of existing research outcomes into a global dataset will provide confidence in application of models such as iRAP. Key elements could include: •Thorough review of existing research knowledge of countermeasures used in LMICs. •Case studies of LMIC specific countermeasures - e.g. rock gabions as a road barrier. •Influence of multiple countermeasures on crash reduction at a single site and the appropriate estimation of aggregated benefits (e.g. validation of the recent ARRB research that suggest "x 0.6 reduction" on individual summed benefits for the overall benefits of packages of multiple countermeasures). •The specification of "Safe System compliant" countermeasures that can reduce almost 100 per cent of deaths and severe injuries, versus "supporting". countermeasures that are effective but have a supporting role in only partially reducing likelihood or severity. •Review of the specification, costing and treatment life of countermeasures and how they differ from country to country. •Road width/sealed shoulders and the influence on risk to car occupants and pedestrians based on actual usage patterns of the shoulders (e.g. an inside overtaking lane, additional traffic lane). •Influence of low labour costs and high material costs on selection of countermeasures (particularly imported equipment) and options for innovative alternatives.

Note: the project will be carried out in collaboration with iRAP (www.irap.net).

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